Naruto was just settling into his fifth bowl of Raman (meaning he was just getting started good.) When he felt two familiar Chakra signatures behind him.

'Sigh' "What do you want now?"

Sasuke and Sakura traded looks again.

"We want to know what's gotten into you dobe."

"Ya, Like Sasuke-kun said, your not acting normal."

Naruto took a moment to ponder this as he finished off bowl number six

"So basically, because I'm no longer being the smiling happy idiot you know, logically something is wrong with me?"

This time it was Sakura and Sasuke's turn to think for a moment.

"Err ya, that's pretty much the gist of it."

Naruto sighed as he signaled for the owner of the Raman bar to bring his bill.

"Well tough shit. I've been the smiling happy moron for long enough. I'm taking a day off. Just leave me alone and before you know it I'll be back, and you can go on pretending that everything is fine."

It was then that Kakashi decided to make his appearance. Popping up in a cloud of smoke he gave his usual long and drawn-out greeting.

"Yo"

Sasuke and Sakura sweat dropped, Naruto on the other hand had just had his anger riled again.

"Wait, wait. Don't tell me. You're late today because you got lost on the road of life, while helping some old lady cross a street, after saving her poor pooch from rampaging S class missing nins, who had started on fire the mime you were copying because you covered the wrong eye with your headband."

Kakashi sweat dropped as Naruto combined all of his usual excuses for being late into one long story.

"Err ya, something like that."

"Well you and the other two morons can just piss off. I need a day to myself, and I have better things to do than listen to your lame ass excuses."

With that Naruto once again stood. After dropping the correct amount of money for the food Naruto left a generous tip for the Raman man's daughter and walked past the rest of his team. All of whom had their proverbial jaws on the floor. A couple of minutes after Naruto had left teams eight and nine walked in and found them standing frozen.

Kiba's voice was the first heard after a second or so of shock.

"What the hell happened here?"

Kakashi was the first person to snap out of it. Pulling out the book that he always kept with him he simply said.

"Naruto."

Kurenai and Asuma nodded sagely.

"I admit that I expected this long before now."

"I know exactly what you mean Azuma. I had figured the kid would snap before he got out of the academy."

Casting a critical eye around the interior of the Raman stand Azuma ventured to add.

"I'm guessing that we really don't need to send anyone after him? The place is still intact, so I'm guessing that he didn't go AWOL."

Kakashi shrugged and turned a page in his book.

"Nah, he'll be fine after a day or so. He just needs a little time to cool off."

Kurenai and Azuma were nodding sagely again when suddenly they heard a shout just outside the door.

"SO POOR NARUTO'S SHINING FLAMES OF YOUTH HAVE BEEN DIMMED? WE HAVE NO TIME TO WASTE! WE MUST CHEER HIM AND RE-KINDLE THE BURNING SPIRIT OF HIS YOUTH!"

"LEE-SAN YOUR GENEORSIY IS OVERWELMING AND YOUR SPIRIT BURNS WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND SUNS! SURELY YOU SHALL RETURN THE BEACON OF JOY TO NARUTO'S LIFE."

"GUY-SENSEI"

"LEE"

"GUY-SENSEI"

"LEE"

"GUY-SENSEI"

"LEE"

The eleven people in the room sweat dropped and tried to tune out the two as Neji and Ten-ten came sliding in though the door. By this time Sasuke and Sakura and recovered and appeared to be considering their escape plan when the other nine students walked over to chat. After Sasuke's betrayal of leaf Ino had rather lost interest in him and therefore the usual fighting between her and Sakura had fallen off. With nothing to keep them at each others throats the two had picked their friendship back up for another try.

"So," Said Ino "What in the name of Kami-Sama are they talking about?"

To everyone's surprise, it was Sasuke that answered.

"Damned if I know. For all I can gather they've been expecting someone to go off the deep end."

After a few moments of shocked silence (GUY SENSEI! LEE! GUY SENSEI! LEE!) He said.

"What? It's not like I'm a mute."

Another moment passed and then Shikamaru spoke up.

"Hey. Where's Naruto?"

"Ya, where is that loudmouth?" said Chouji "Normally he'd be demanding answers by now."

"H..he's not h..hurt again is he?" asked Hinata. "I..if he is we should go visit him."

Shino and Neji just sat and glared at each other. Neither was willing to admit it, but they each considered the other to be a close rival. Not surprising considering that their bloodlines pretty much cancelled each other out.

"Nah," Said Kiba "He may be a moron, but he's tough, it'd have to be life threatening to keep him from his Raman, and if it was, we would have heard of it by now."

Sakura briefly sighed before filling them in on Naruto's odd behavior.

"So, our sensei's are talking about him huh?" Said Shikamaru.

"Guess so." Muttered Sasuke

"Where's he at?" Questioned Ino

Sakura gave her an odd look before answering.

"We don't know. He took off, about a minute later you guys came walking in."

"It was actually closer to ten." Said Ayame (the Raman man's daughter) as she picked up Naruto's bowls, and the tip he left her. "You just stood there like statues."

With that she turned around and went back to work.

"WOW, what did he do, say something intelligent?" Laughed Kiba.

Hinata frowned at that comment. She didn't much like insults. ESPECALLY insults directed toward Naruto.

"Well," said Neji "Whatever we do, we need to take off soon. Those morons out front are going to start winding down any moment."

It was then that the sensei's spoke up.

"Oy, Students. We've decided that you all probably need a little time off. If you haven't figured it out yet, Naruto's having a bit of a bit day and we figure that it's probably just the stress talking. Therefore you all have till tomorrow."

After giving his speech Asuma glanced at Kurenai. She shrugged before adding.

"See you like normal tomorrow."

The three Jounin were about to leave when Kakashi stopped and turned around.

"Oh ya, And I think that Naruto probably needs a little time alone. Therefore I advise all of you to just leave him be. He probably just needs some time to himself."

With that all three disappeared in various puffs of smoke.

"Figures" Muttered Sasuke "The dobe decides to take a day off and they don't care. If I Tried that I'd be running laps for a year."

"Ya," said Ino, "But He didn't try to betray his village."

There was a brief pause and then

"Sorry. I shouldn't have S.."

"No. You had every right." 'sigh' "I admit that I made a VERY stupid mistake, I hope that sooner or later you will all be able to forgive me."

Again there was silence, broken only by the sound of Guy and lee yelling at each other.

"Damn. Do those to ever stop?"

Neji and Ten-ten answered simultaneously

"No"

"Yes"

The looked at each other for a minute before Neji sighed.

"They usually wind down after twenty minutes or so, but it FEELS like they never stop."

"So, what are we going to do about Naruto?"

Everyone stopped talking for a moment to look at Shino. Shifting uncomfortably under their gazes he spoke up again.

"What? You guys seemed to be getting a little off track."

"Shit" Muttered Kiba under his breath "The stress MUST be getting to us, first Sasuke volunteers an opinion, and now Shino is talking. What's next? Gaara hooking up with Tsunade-Sama?"

"Actually" said Sakura "they've been seeing each other for months now."

Everybody's jaws hit the floor except Sakura's and Hinata's. Hinata giggled for a moment before adding.

"In an official capacity of course. Gaara is the new KazeKage,"

After everyone had re-attached their lower jaws, kiba spoke up again.

"So what now?"

he was Suddenly ripped off his feet as a green blur passed though the room and out the door. The remaining genin heard a voice in the distance yelling.

"NOW WE FIND NARUTO-SAN AND SHOW HIM THE FLAMES OF OUR YOUTH!"

"GO LEE-SAN! MAKE YOUR SENSEI PROUD!"

And distantly

"HEY YOU FUZZY EYEBROWED FREAK LET ME GO! GUYS! HELP ME!"

Akamaru whimpered and Hinata bent down to pick him up.

"W..well, I guess that we're going to find N..Naruto-kun."

With a mutual shrug, the rest of the gennin began to follow the sounds of Kiba's cursing.

Hisoka316: Hope I didn't screw this chapter up to bad :) Miyata: I'm considering taking this one in a different direction actuly, just to see if I can do it.

wolvesmon: Thats the Idea :D

ranma hibiki: Hmm, you know, I hadn't thought of making them permant nicknames... I might just have to do that.

Kitsune-Itai: Sorry, I was getting tired, of course I wrote half of this story shortly thereafter... Hope it didn't suck to badly. BTW, I'm certain that I made it QUITE clear how I feel about stories like that. I'm insulted that you'd even accuse me of CONSIDERING such a thing.

Dragon Man 180: At this point I think that they are going to split up and look for naruto seperatly, I assure you however that he will probably run into all of them before the story is over.

To everyone: I'm Overwhelmed, almost twenty reviews on the first chapter? This is great! maby i should start writing some of the one-shot's that I've been considering. Thank you all for your support, It is just awesome to go into my e-mail and find it overflowing with reviews. I hope this chapter wasn't to dry, but I wanted to set the scene. Thank you all again, and Keep the reviews coming!

Sincerly,
Manatheron